This website uses cookies primarily for visitor analytics. Certain pages will ask you to fill in contact details to receive additional information. On these pages you have the option of having the site log your details for future visits. Indicating you want the site to remember your details will place a cookie on your device. To view our full cookie policy, please click here. You can also view it at any time by going to our Contact Us page.

FSA publishes Food and You 2012 survey results

The Food Standards Agency has published the second wave of its biannual survey exploring the public’s attitudes and reported behaviour on food safety issues.

Following face-to-face interviews with more than 3000 people across the UK, the survey found that:

older respondents (aged 75+) were more than twice as likely to report food safety practices that were not in line with FSA guidance compared to younger respondents (aged 35-44)

male respondents were 1.5 times as likely to report food safety practices that were not in line with FSA guidance, compared to female respondents

the majority of respondents’ food safety practices in the home were in line with FSA guidance. This was especially the case for cleaning and cooking practices and least likely to be the case for chilling practices

compared to Wave 1 (carried out in 2010), a greater proportion of respondents in Wave 2 said that, in line with recommended practice, they never wash raw meat and poultry (32% compared to 26% in Wave 1) and that the fridge temperature should be between 0-5°C (53% compared to 46% in Wave 1)

only two-thirds (64%) of respondents said that ‘use by’ dates were the best indicator of whether food was safe to eat. Other commonly reported indicators were how food smells and how it looks

almost three-quarters (72%) reported being concerned about food poisoning, and more than two-thirds (69%) of respondents said that cleanliness and hygiene was a consideration when deciding where to eat out

a third (34%) of respondents in England, Wales and Northern Ireland reported previously having seen a Food Hygiene Rating Scheme certificate and/or sticker. Forty-four per cent of respondents in Scotland reported having seen a Food Hygiene Information Scheme sticker and/or certificate

Bob Martin, FSA food safety adviser, said: "The report shines light on the public’s attitude and reported behaviour regarding food safety, both in the home and when eating out. The findings will help us to target our work with consumers where we can make the biggest impact on reducing foodborne disease."

Contact Details and Archive...

E-mail this page

RELATED CONTENT...

With the constant legal emphasis on health & safety considerations within all types of organisations and the daily news of hefty fines and sometimes even imprisonment it makes clear sense to acquire the best type of compact and all embracing Workplace Welfare Sets from the experts Testo.Full Story...

RELATED SPONSORED ARTICLES...

With the constant legal emphasis on health & safety considerations within all types of organisations and the daily news of hefty fines and sometimes even imprisonment it makes clear sense to acquire the best type of compact and all embracing Workplace Welfare Sets from the experts Testo.Full Story...

MOST VIEWED...

Controlling the temperature of food across the whole supply chain is vital to extend shelf life. But how much can be gained by food manufacturers through careful monitoring at all process stages?Full Story...

Over the past 10 years Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B InBev) has grown its global distribution network using a strategy which goes against the grain for traditional brewery specifications. In place of cost and time intensive permanent structures, it has adopted a design-driven approach in partnership with Herchenbach, a manufacturer of temporary buildings and semi-permanent warehouses. Full Story...